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[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 113 (Thursday, July 26, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1344-E1345]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

HONORING THE COURAGE AND SELFLESS SERVICE OF CORPORAL DANIEL PALMER OF 
                            MILTON, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2012

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is with profound gratitude and 
sincere respect that I rise to pay tribute to the courage and selfless 
service of Marine Corporal Daniel Palmer of Milton, Florida. In 2010, 
then Lance Corporal Palmer was severely wounded on patrol in 
Afghanistan, while assigned to Third Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment, 
Lima Company. After spending the last year in rehabilitation at Camp 
Lejeune, North Carolina, I am happy to say that on July 27, Northwest 
Florida will finally be able to welcome home their native son and an 
American hero.
  Cpl Palmer is a 2004 graduate of Central High School in Allentown, 
Florida. While working at his family's masonry business in 2008 at the 
age of 22, he surprised his parents, Joey and Flora Jean Palmer, with 
his decision to join the U.S. Marine Corps. Cpl Palmer chose the Marine 
Corps because of its reputation for toughness and pride. Cpl Palmer's 
older brother, Scott, says Daniel has always been energetic and 
competitive and was proud of his decision to join the Marine Corps from 
day one.
  On March 20, 2010, LCpl Palmer was leading a team of Marines on 
patrol when he stepped on a concealed improvised explosive device. 
Although he was severely wounded by the blast and shrapnel from the 
bomb, his first concern was the safety of his fellow Marines. When one 
of the Marines on his team started to run toward LCpl Palmer after the 
blast, LCpl Palmer shouted orders to his team to take cover rather than 
rushing out into the open and risk setting off another bomb or exposing 
themselves to small arms fire. LCpl Palmer's toughness and concern for 
others didn't stop there. His first words to his family after he was 
injured were, ``[D]on't worry about me. I don't want you to feel sorry 
for me or anything. I did what I did serving my country.''
  He spent the next two years convalescing at military hospitals, all 
the while comforted by the tender devotion of his loving wife, Becky, 
at his side. Although Cpl Palmer is thousands of miles away from 
Afghanistan, his thoughts are still with his fellow Marines who are in 
harm's way. ``Keep praying for all the boys who are still over there,'' 
he will tell you, ``there's still a bunch of people over there risking 
their lives every day.''
  It has been said that the story of America's quest for freedom is 
inscribed on our history in the blood of our patriots. Today, the blood 
shed by America's patriots in defense of freedom is also inscribing the 
histories of nations like Afghanistan. Cpl Palmer's service in the 
military of our great country bears testament to his belief in the 
fundamental truth that all men are created equal and are endowed by 
their Creator with the unalienable right to liberty. Cpl Palmer 
sacrificed a great deal attempting to secure for the Afghan people the 
blessings of freedom. We must never forget his contribution toward that 
honorable end.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I stand here 
today to honor Cpl Daniel Palmer and all of the heroes serving our 
great nation around the world. My wife, Vicki, joins me in offering our 
profound thanks to Cpl Palmer and his family and our prayers for his 
speedy recovery. May God continue to bless him, his family and the 
United States Armed Forces.I66F

  IN HONOR OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF PLAST, THE UKRAINIAN SCOUTING 
                              ORGANIZATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2012

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary 
of Plast, the Ukrainian Scouting Organization.
  Plast was founded in 1911 by Dr. Oleksandr Tysovsky, and it is based 
on the principles of scouting started by Lord Baden Powell in Great 
Britain.
  As a consequence of the country's absence of national independence 
through most of the 20th Century, Plast was forced to go underground 
when the occupying Soviet Union declared the organization illegal and 
banned its activities.
  However, following World War II, when many Ukrainians emigrated to 
various countries of the Free World, including the United States, the 
plastuny (members of Plast) among the emigres formed Plast 
organizations in the countries of their settlement. This included 
incorporating ``Plast, Inc.'' in 1950 in the state of Michigan.
  Additionally, after the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine in 
1991, Plast was re-constituted in Ukraine with the help of plastuny 
from the United States and other Free World countries.
  Today, Plast is an international organization of Ukrainian youth 
which fosters personal development, leadership and teamwork, as well as 
a love of Ukrainian culture and history while also raising youth to be 
conscientious, responsible and valuable citizens of their communities 
at the local, national, and international level. The former President 
of Ukraine, Victor Yushchenko, is an honorary plastun, and Liubomyr 
Cardinal Husar, a U.S. citizen and now Patriarch-emeritus of the 
Ukrainian Eastern Rite Catholic Church based in Ukraine, is one of many 
distinguished plastuns.
  Currently, Plast has 23 branches coast to coast in the United States, 
and Plast will be celebrating its Centennial with a Jamboree in 
Ukraine, August 10th to 24th, with the official opening of the Jamboree 
Celebration on August 19th in the city of L'viv.
  As such, we should recognize August 19, 2012 as the Centennial Day of 
Plast, commend the Ukrainian Scouting Organization for its tremendous 
contributions, and celebrate the Centennial of Plast.

[[Page E1345]]

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